But there are some strategies that are helping students and families get back in the groove.

The kids at Ellis Memorial in the South End spent plenty of time on field trips and just having fun this summer, but they also enjoyed programs designed to give them an edge as they head back to school.

More than 20 schools around the state offered the program this summer.

"I like it when we play spelling games because I like to spell and I like to read," said sixth-grader Rene Redd.

"We try to incorporate literacy in everything we do by proving fun educational activities for the children to participate in," said Meisha Reece, director of new programs at Ellis Memorial.

Studies show that lower-income students lose more than two months in reading achievement during the summer. Experts say the reason behind the summer slide is that they don't have the same access to summer learning opportunities.

Programs like the one offered at Ellis are helping to close the achievement gap.

"Over 85 percent of kids are retaining what they learn, and some are increasing because you can't stop in summer from one year to the next. You've got to keep progressing," said Mike Durkin, president of the United Way.

There are ways parents can keep the learning process fun all year long. Design a simple treasure hunt for sight words around your home for younger kids, or encourage the older ones to keep a journal and record some of the memorable moments of their day.

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THAT WILL OFFER PERSONALIZED CARE AND SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILYS. KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL SO THAT PRETTY MUCH MEANS SUMMER IS OVER BUT SOME STUDENTS HAVE A HARDER TIME GETTING INTO THE SCHOOL DRIVE THAN OTHERS. ERIKA BACK WITH THE STRATEGIES MANY FAMILIES ARE FINDING HELPFUL. WHAT THEY DID OVER THE SUMMER OVER VACATION MID ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE. THE KIDS AT ELLIS MEMORIAL SPENT SPENT PLENTY OF TIME ON FIELD TRIPS HAVING FUN. BUT THIS PROGRAM AND 20 MORE LIKE IT ADDED SOMETHING EXTRA HELPING THE KIDS GET AN EDGE AS THEY HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL. I LIKE IT WHEN WE PLAY SPELLING GAMES BECAUSE I LIKE TO SELL AND I LIKE TO READ. WE MAKE SURE TO INCORPORATE LITERACY IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO BY PROVIDING FUN BUT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN. STUDIES SHOW LOW INCOME STUDENTS LOSE MORE THAN TWO MOMONTHS IN READING ACHIEVEMENT. THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ARE HELPING TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP. OVER 5% OF KIDS ARE --85% ARE RETAINING WHAT THEY LEARN AND INCREASING THEIR READING SKILLS. THERE ARE WAYS PARENTS CAN KEEP THE LEARNING PROCESS FUN ALL YEAR LONG. DESIGN A SIMPLE TREASURE HUNT FOR SIGHT WORDS AROUND THE HOME FOR YOUNGER KIDS. BY THE WAY, NEWSCENTER5 BOSTON'S COMMUNITY LEADER IS PARTNERING WITH CRADLES TO CRAYONS TO COLLECT BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES. DROP OFF SUPPLIES THROUGH

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